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Ohio State football
Xenia's Person fighting for starting job at right guard
The fourth-year junior lineman has proved he's finally ready, but he won't let his guard down.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
COLUMBUS — Offensive lineman Ben Person was willing to accept being relegated to the bench during his first two years at Ohio State, knowing he'd need some time before playing significantly.
But failing to crack the starting lineup as a third-year sophomore last season left the Xenia native more angry than a bull with a matador in its sights.
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Old GWOC rivals: OSU defensive lineman Todd Denlinger (92) from Troy works on offensive guard Ben Person during the spring game at Ohio Stadium in Columbus.
Ohio State's 6-foot-4, 315-pound offensive guard Ben Person played in all 12 regular-season games last season as a member of the second-string offensive line and on special teams."I wasn't mad at (the coaches) at all — I was upset with myself," he said. "I didn't put myself in position to be where I wanted to be."
Unwilling to accept the status quo, he arrived early and stayed late at practice last season, bent on perfecting his technique. And with the departure of first-team All-Big Ten pick T.J. Downing, Person grabbed the right-guard position by the lapels during the spring and went into preseason camp as a first-stringer.
"He's going to get his first opportunities to be the guy in there," offensive line coach Jim Bollman said. "He's prepared for this a long time. He's bigger and stronger than he's ever been. I think he's ready to do that job."
The Buckeyes return three starters on the offensive line with senior Kirk Barton, a second-team all-league selection, and junior Alex Boone at the tackles and junior Steve Rehring at guard. Sophomore Jim Cordle is expected to replace first-team all-conference center Doug Datish.
The 6-foot-4, 315-pound Person was a highly touted high school prospect in 2004 — rated the third-best recruit in Ohio by one scouting service and the 10th-best guard in the nation by another.
But he didn't even make the traveling squad in his first two years at OSU, and he had trouble explaining to some folks what he was doing back home on weekends while the Buckeyes were on road trips.
"You don't know what to say," he recalled. "Finally, I just started telling people I wasn't ready to play yet. That was the bottom line."
But while the fourth-year junior is assured of not having to go through that humbling process again, he still doesn't see himself as a starter.
"In my head, it's not my spot yet," he said. "There's still other guys who can get it. That's what I tell myself to keep fighting."
Offensive line
The depth chart:
Left tackle: Alex Boone, Jr., 6-8, 325; backup: Josh Kerr, R-Fr., 6-5, 283
Left guard: Steve Rehring Jr. 6-8, 329; backup: Bryant Browning, R-Fr., 6-4, 328
Center: Jim Cordle, So., 6-4, 285; backup: Andrew Moses * So., 6-3, 267
Right guard: Ben Person, Jr., 6-4, 315; backup: Connor Smith, R-Fr., 6-5, 295
Right tackle: Kirk Barton, Sr., 6-6, 310; backup: Browning
* Indicates walk-on
